Sweet. My Dad had a 66 Dodge with the slant 225 and 3 on the tree. I wish he would have kept it. I would sleep on the dog box when we went on trips. AND I SURVIVED. I miss the 70's.
The vans with panel on drivers side and windows on passenger side were called "display" vans. They were almost always ordered by Telecom/phone companies for fleet use. The panel side had tool racks/shelves while the window side allowed light and side visability. Very rare to see one that was not originally ordered for a telecom company. Thanks for posting.
The van is awesome but the back story is the best. It's good to see someone of a younger age having such respect for family. You sir are a dying breed!!!
You did a great job. My older brother had a 69 panel van and offered it to me it had a 350 and a powerglide transmission. I didn’t have the space at the time and said no thanks .I’m kicking myself now.
I had a 69 Chevy van in 1976. I raced Motocross back then and built a camper / toy hauler inside it. Then I got tired of the slow 6 cylinder and built a hot rodded 327 and put in it with a 4 speed Muncie. Floor shift converteed too! I wanted to convert it to 4 wheel drive, but the wife started having kids then, so I had to sell it. Always wanted another. I put my my V8 in through the bottom, too! It was so much easier to just set the front on blocks and roll the steer axle out. Nice, thanks for the memories!
Jake, this is fantastic! In the late 70’s my friends were immersed in the custom van craze. I ended up with a ‘68 flat glass that one of my best friends sold to me. He had totally customized it inside and out as well as slipped (crammed) in a 283 V8 with headers. It took an hour just to change the plugs! I had some of the best times of my life with that van. My wife and I traveled all over with it when I was competing in New England (motorcycle) enduros. You did a beautiful job with this build, your grandfather would be proud 👍🏼
Sweat! Gramps is the man. What a great gift. I'm sure he loved the thought of living on in your memory as he obviously is. Pass that van on to your kid.
Love the van man. My parents first new vehicle was a 71 Bronco and my dad sold it in the early 80's to start his business. In the 90's we tracked it down and it was the body, frame, boxes of parts, and tires. The guy that bought it ripped it all apart and was going to lift it, new motor, trans, restore it, and he lost interest halfway through. The title was still in my dads name which made it easy but we're the least mechanical family on the planet so it took us 10 years to get it all together but were driving it now. It was cool to hear that the van was your grandfathers and how important it is to you, I thought I was one of the only people who gets sentimental about vehicles.
I had a 67 108 that I put in a 340ish HP 3970010 4 bolt main 350 and I dropped it in thru the top. All I had to do is unpin the stop on the passenger door. I used a 2:73 69 Impala rear end and Turbo 350 trans. I made the throttle cable for it and it was 11 feet long. It would tow anything, and got 19 mpg on the freeway. I miss that thing, and wish I would have kept it to tow my 16 foot cargo trailer conversion, but now have a 03 Tahoe Z71 5.3, and love it.
I love this van! About 20 years ago, I went to weekly archery tournaments with an oldtimer who had done almost the same build and paint with the same year van. I was always so psyched whenever he showed up. I think this is one of the best looking vans.
I had a 65 SWB 6 cylinder 3 speed 😊 Camaro buckets, PLUM CRAZY PAINT!! and cragar SS wheels!! Thanks Diane for the purple curtains!!!😊😊😊😊😊❤ your truck is badass 😂😂😂😂
@@machinesinc thanks for the reply!!! Sad thing is that way back when I didn't realize how much I would like to have photos of my old cars 😪😪😪😪 like my 65 impala SS convertible, no photo, 68 Chevy nova SS no photo, two photos of my 64 red impala SS, and 1 photo of my van !!! Who knew 🚘🚘🚘🚘😦😦😦📸📸📸📸
Nice project. I love the visibility and seat position for driving vans. For 4x4 help with cables and shifters etc Bleepin Jeep built a forward control Jeep that he worked through some problems in his videos. Good luck with your future build.
In 1976, this van was our family's first vehicle. Its brining back many memories, it was white and had the windows all around with a dog house. I recall many times holding the flashlight while my dad worked on it.
This is awesome. I love those. Style vans. I have my grandfathers K5 that I’m in a scramble to fix similar to what you stated. Came out great and I am sure your grandpa is smiling every time you drive it.
Oh man.... Had a 65 in my early twenties around 1984 for a couple years that I lifted, put a set of meats on, and painted with imron paint, full custom interior.... Had a hundred vehicles since including lots of oldies, but that's the one I always wish I had kept forever.... Back then they were everywhere ama I would say now that they may be one of the most difficult to find rigs on the planet.
Great job on saving your grandfather’s van and adapting it to your lifestyle. As you said, sourcing parts can be difficult. Drop me a line, maybe I can help.
Beautiful van, beautiful story. I also remember learning how to drive at 13. Memories like those are what life is made for. Seriously brotha it looks better than most modern vans. Definitely does not look old.
Thanks for the video. My first vehicle was a 1967 Chevy van I bought off my father. It also had been a work van. This was in the early 70's and I had started decking out the interior with brown shag carpet and was getting ready to put in paneling. Unfortunately I rolled the van one and a quarter times on my way home from school. Messed up the body pretty bad. Still ran tho. Moved on to a 69 Olds Toronado WITH factory 8 Track. Thanks for bringing back some great memories.
Nice! Had never seen this configuration on a van. As an overlander and with sentimental value from your grandfather, you seem very confident on fixing and modifying it to suit!
Very cool display van, I have a 69 108. I love 1st and 2nd Gen vans. Mine is a real panel with no side or rear windows. Van looks awesome, glad you kept her looks stock
Cool van! I put seats from a 1980 Subaru in one. Easy swap. In the mid '80s I was making side $$ as a backyard mechanic. Somebody totaled my Subaru, which if memory serves was an 80 coupe. GL? I needed transportation fast. In the yard I had a 69 Chevy window van that we'd pulled the 327 out of to go in a nova. The t-boned Subaru, and a rolled mercury zephyr wagon. Took the engine (200cuin 6) & tranny out of the zephyr and swapped it into the van. Had to shorten the drive shaft almost a foot. The seats in the van were rotted to just the springs, so I put the seats out of the Subaru in it. Had some mirrors & hubcaps off an old dodge pickup to round off Frankenstein. It got 21mpg. I sold it to a buddy that drove it like that for 20 years.
Well done young man. Great presentation. I don't need to tell you that your Grandfather would be proud and glad you're enjoying it. He'll....if I wasn't 2000 miles away I'd lend a hand myself. Very cool.
When I was 12-13, one of these vans ran over my buddies dog. Having a buddy-dog of my own, I HATED those vans for a while. Then, I actually admired the design of those old Chevy vans. LOTS OF CHARACTER! Yeah, nice van. A treasure.
Came across this video at random. I love the history of this van, an what you've done with it! I love Chevy vans in general, and the uniqueness of yours is awesome. Your Grandfather would be proud. New sub.
Nice video. I had 2 of those vans. Sportvan deluxe. The first was totally redone. I love redoing it. I drove it all around the U.S. I got the second one for a parts van. I went down to southern California to get it. It was too nice to make a parts van. 68k original miles it even had a Kleenex holder inside it stock item. That was in the late 90's into the 2000's. Once my daughter came to us, I no longer felt as safe driving it around. Those were some fun times.
Sweet! I don't know why we don't see more of these 4 x 4 vans. A 4 x 4 van seems very practical and a functional recreational vehicle. Used to see a lot of them back in the late 70's.
I had one of those vans, and had aspirations of doing that. I even found a super rare 3 speed manual transmission with 205 t/c. But a buddy had to have it, and it's gone. I am happy to see it done so well.
Love this as an adventure wagon platform. Great approach/departure angles, and the 108" wheelbase is great for off-road. I imagine visibility from the driver's seat is excellent for picking good lines. Such a fun project.
Machins INC. This is a sweet van. My first vehicle was a '68 ford F100 with a straight six and a three-on-the-tree. That's how I learned how to drive a manual transmission and I loved it. Bench seat, lap belts only. Rear-wheel drive. One last thing: Never get rid of this van!! Pass it down when you get too old to drive it.
It took a 12' B&M shifter cable to work my 4L60E with the shifter. Also, Clasic Industries sells an all-electric gauge kit that fits the 62-65 Nova I used for mine. Crushin69 here.. Good to find you on youtube!
As a VW Bus - Chevy 4x4 - Jeep JKU owner, this van really speaks to me! Your grandfather sounded like a great man. And you’ve got a good friend who was a lot of help. You’re a blessed man
Nice job refurbishing your Grandads van! He would be very proud of your work! Looking at where that radiator is, so close to the front of the dog house, it’s amazes me it gets enough air to cool the V8! Thanks for sharing!
Had a 68 chevy van back in 1984 and drove her for a few years!!! Like that van!!! Work van 307 3 speed trans and ran great!!!! My buddy called it THE DOPE VAN!!!! WE DID GO TO THE LAKE CAMPING WITH IT AND DRANK SOME BEER!!! ME AND MY CHOW DOG SMOKEY DROVE 600 MILES IN ONE DAY MOVING OUT OF OKLAHOMA!!! I MAY BUY ANOTHER ONE BUT THE ONES I SEE FOR SALE ARE IN BAD, RUSTY SHAPE!!!!!
Had one. Great to work on even if it's rainy. Took my doghouse off the floor to install the hot 327 then bolted it on. Put floor shifter in with reverse pattern.😊
This story speaks to me in so many ways. I'm from Greenville, SC and drove a 1966 Dodge van through High School and College. This was in the late 70s, so 8-track tape and 6x9 speakers rockin' it. I now live up near Asheville and do a good bit of off-road and overland travel and have always wanted to get back into s 70 van with 4x4. Fantastic rig and great story with it coming from your Grandpa. I'm sure he would get a kick out of it. Another tidbit is that I worked with the Telephone company and they ordered all of their Chevy vans with the windows on one side and metal on the other to allow for storage on the driver's side and safer visibility on the passenger's side. It may be that this van was a Southern Bell order that your Grandpa got somehow.
This van is actually from Greenville, SC! It’s hit plenty of trails up in the Asheville area as well. And seems these display vans are more common than I thought. I just had only ever seen the sport vans and full panel vans.
OMG I've got Croc tears welling up. My first car at 17 y.o., my '67 Chevy Van. What a history. You're absolutely right it only cam with a straight six, 250 cu. in. Got it in '73. Maan we went everywhere. Decked out the box with bed and shelves, cupboards, blau punkt stereo with everything. What a "first car" (van). Oh, and installed portholes in rear sides plus sun/vent roof whatever... been so long. Originally a Bell Telephone cargo van slash utility van, got it at a fleet auction. Windows only up front, none in back or on doors. Headlights were low. Put bigger wheels on rear jacked the back up made it look cool. Recall that straight six was enough, plus three-ona-tree shifter. You had to bring the arm practically all the way up into reverse, literally drop it then shove it up to get it into second gear cuz the linkage was so bad, plus eventually leaked oil like a Siv. Ended up moving out west and the old boy just couldn't do the miles and had to sell it. Broke my heart giving it up, like a first love and all that.
Love what you've done with the van, great history of it as well. I had a 64 Chevy panel van, 6 banger, 3 on the tree back in high school and early college. Drove it all over and had a lot of fun with friends!
The pimped hippie... What a cool van..... Someone gave me a 96 Land Rover Discovery that set in the Mojave desert for 15 years and I just love the thing even as rough as it is
Cool build as it brings back good memories. My father bought new 69 307ci van with 4 on the column. I could be wrong but I'm remembering only 69 of them were made with 4spd.
Love this van. Love this video. The thing about “overlanders” is that they’re almost always so big and heavy that they’re only good for TH-cam and Instagram hits and would be stopped at the first switchback. This thing is small enough to actually go over landing.
I just found your channel and all I can say is "WOW"!!! Your van is one of the coolest projects I've seen in years and I am subscribing to your channel right after I finish this comment because I don't want to miss a single episode to see where this treasure goes. I'm truly sorry your grandfather is not around to see what you've got going on with this van but I have NO doubt he's looking down and seeing for himself what a fine young man you have become... RIP Grandpa, your van is in great hands...
I had a 1969 G90. Paid $30 for it in 1986 and drove it 7 years. MA Bell van 101. Only back and side doors had glass. Rest was solid. Pro Tip. When camping and not driving, the stock seat belts make a great beer bottle opener.
I had the same van back in the 70's. My friends and I called her the crippler due to the fact if you get in a head on even if your legs will get mangled even if your doing like 30 miles an hour. Looks good and drive safe.
When I was young, our family car was a 65 chevy sportvan. I drove it several times and one of the times I drove it out wheelin in the state forest fire lanes. Lots of fun.
That thing is rad. You are lucky to have come across one. I had a 68 and I had a buddy who had a 65. I spent lots of time working on it and painting it. Unfortunately I crashed it on the first icy day of the year. They were called handyvans in Canada.
Wow, that is so cool! I just bought a 4wd 4Runner to get back into off road stuff. Last time I was into off road stuff was in the early eighties. YOU'RE ONE LUCKY DUDE!
@@machinesinc I also have a 2002 Chevy Express 1500 cargo van that I had lifted but it's 2wd so had a posi unit installed in the rear end. I use it for towing a travel trailer and limited off road excursions. There are a couple of places here in So Cal that would convert it to 4wd but one takes too long and big $$$$$$. The other uses independent front suspension which I didn't want. The 4Runner has independent front suspension so I must baby it. Anything used with a straight front end axle here in So Cal is outrageously expensive.
Whoa, dude, this is one of my favorite vans of all time. Ive loved the 69 chevy vans since i had see one back in the early 70s. You made it 4wd, you used a minimalistic grey, you have windows on one side, you put a V8 in it. Damn, I am jealous. Now i see you have 4 roof crossbars on it. Hey you're already set up to carry Hang Gliders with fewer pressure points, if you ever want to do a real sport, you know, like Hang Gliding.
Enjoyed your video. I love it when a guy takes the time to fix up the old iron. The junk they are making today is sad. I wouldn’t take a second look at a new anything made today. But would talk to you for hours asking how you did this or that to make things work or about the fabrication on things. The 4 wheel drive where the original shifter was would be a nice touch. God bless
Would’ve been sweet if you could’ve put some headers on it and master flow mufflers, and your pipes out the back or just behind the back tire with 3 inch echo chamber, love the color that’s awesome. I love the way you got it set up, and don’t worry your grandfather is looking down upon you, and he’s very appreciative of the fact of what you’ve done to the van and that you still have it
I had some headers on this thing when I originally put the V8 in. Unfortunately even with everything insulated it just COOKED everything inside the doghouse. But I don’t mind a more factory exhaust for now. And thanks for the support!
Real nice build! Never seen an attempt at a G series conversion till now. Love the Motor choice, axels, all of it really! Hope you enjoy it for a long time. Thanks for posting her.
The coolest part of your story to me, is that you named your TH-cam channel after your Grandpa's business.
Gotta keep it alive!
Sweet.
My Dad had a 66 Dodge with the slant 225 and 3 on the tree. I wish he would have kept it.
I would sleep on the dog box when we went on trips. AND I SURVIVED.
I miss the 70's.
Life was easier then 😂
I know!!! It's a wonder that we survived 😊😊😊
Very nice , and 1000 times cooler than a sprinter van.
Haha sprinters are nice for those long days on the highway though
The vans with panel on drivers side and windows on passenger side were called "display" vans. They were almost always ordered by Telecom/phone companies for fleet use. The panel side had tool racks/shelves while the window side allowed light and side visability. Very rare to see one that was not originally ordered for a telecom company. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for the info!
Yep. My first van was a 64 Chevy flat nose. Originally owned by SW Bell. Lots of good times in that van!
Excellent details of this rarely seen configuration, made even rarer as it was ordered by its first owner this way!
Off to a good start. Nice van.
Mine was van # 101
The van is awesome but the back story is the best. It's good to see someone of a younger age having such respect for family. You sir are a dying breed!!!
Thanks!
You did a great job. My older brother had a 69 panel van and offered it to me it had a 350 and a powerglide transmission. I didn’t have the space at the time and said no thanks .I’m kicking myself now.
Wise man once told me if something is free you take it, then figure out what to do with it later haha
@@machinesinc Very true I say this all the time if I only knew then what I know now.
Your grandfather would be proud of what the van has become. Very cool, functional. Great job.
Thanks!
I had a 69 Chevy van in 1976. I raced Motocross back then and built a camper / toy hauler inside it. Then I got tired of the slow 6 cylinder and built a hot rodded 327 and put in it with a 4 speed Muncie. Floor shift converteed too! I wanted to convert it to 4 wheel drive, but the wife started having kids then, so I had to sell it. Always wanted another. I put my my V8 in through the bottom, too! It was so much easier to just set the front on blocks and roll the steer axle out.
Nice, thanks for the memories!
Always thought it would be cool to setup the Moto hauler inside!
Love the origins of the van story. I love the respect given to your grandfather.
Thanks!
Jake, this is fantastic! In the late 70’s my friends were immersed in the custom van craze. I ended up with a ‘68 flat glass that one of my best friends sold to me. He had totally customized it inside and out as well as slipped (crammed) in a 283 V8 with headers. It took an hour just to change the plugs! I had some of the best times of my life with that van. My wife and I traveled all over with it when I was competing in New England (motorcycle) enduros. You did a beautiful job with this build, your grandfather would be proud 👍🏼
That’s super rad!
Your sharp-looking Chevy G10 van abounds in the qualities I value highly--simplicity and ease of maintenance. Good job on the restoration.
Thanks!
Sweat! Gramps is the man. What a great gift. I'm sure he loved the thought of living on in your memory as he obviously is. Pass that van on to your kid.
Hope to
Love the van man. My parents first new vehicle was a 71 Bronco and my dad sold it in the early 80's to start his business. In the 90's we tracked it down and it was the body, frame, boxes of parts, and tires. The guy that bought it ripped it all apart and was going to lift it, new motor, trans, restore it, and he lost interest halfway through. The title was still in my dads name which made it easy but we're the least mechanical family on the planet so it took us 10 years to get it all together but were driving it now. It was cool to hear that the van was your grandfathers and how important it is to you, I thought I was one of the only people who gets sentimental about vehicles.
That’s awesome you guys were able to track down the bronco! Cars are fun when they have a history.
I had a 67 108 that I put in a 340ish HP 3970010 4 bolt main 350 and I dropped it in thru the top. All I had to do is unpin the stop on the passenger door. I used a 2:73 69 Impala rear end and Turbo 350 trans. I made the throttle cable for it and it was 11 feet long. It would tow anything, and got 19 mpg on the freeway. I miss that thing, and wish I would have kept it to tow my 16 foot cargo trailer conversion, but now have a 03 Tahoe Z71 5.3, and love it.
Hell yeah. Also 03 tahoes are slept on haha
@@machinesinc Slept on?
@@markparr7224 not given credit for how good they are
I love this van! About 20 years ago, I went to weekly archery tournaments with an oldtimer who had done almost the same build and paint with the same year van. I was always so psyched whenever he showed up. I think this is one of the best looking vans.
Rad!
I had a 65 SWB 6 cylinder 3 speed 😊 Camaro buckets, PLUM CRAZY PAINT!! and cragar SS wheels!! Thanks Diane for the purple curtains!!!😊😊😊😊😊❤ your truck is badass 😂😂😂😂
Right on!
@@machinesinc thanks for the reply!!! Sad thing is that way back when I didn't realize how much I would like to have photos of my old cars 😪😪😪😪 like my 65 impala SS convertible, no photo, 68 Chevy nova SS no photo, two photos of my 64 red impala SS, and 1 photo of my van !!! Who knew 🚘🚘🚘🚘😦😦😦📸📸📸📸
Nice project. I love the visibility and seat position for driving vans. For 4x4 help with cables and shifters etc Bleepin Jeep built a forward control Jeep that he worked through some problems in his videos. Good luck with your future build.
I’ll check those out
In 1976, this van was our family's first vehicle. Its brining back many memories, it was white and had the windows all around with a dog house. I recall many times holding the flashlight while my dad worked on it.
Nice!
This is awesome. I love those. Style vans. I have my grandfathers K5 that I’m in a scramble to fix similar to what you stated. Came out great and I am sure your grandpa is smiling every time you drive it.
Would love to have a K5 those things are sweet
That's the single most beautiful and wonderful thing I've ever seen. Good on you Man. Seriously.
Thank you!
Great Job! My Dad had a 67, and we put a 327 in, 4 inch tail pipes! Loud and Proud! Miss it! Thanks for the video!
Nice!
Oh man.... Had a 65 in my early twenties around 1984 for a couple years that I lifted, put a set of meats on, and painted with imron paint, full custom interior.... Had a hundred vehicles since including lots of oldies, but that's the one I always wish I had kept forever.... Back then they were everywhere ama I would say now that they may be one of the most difficult to find rigs on the planet.
Definitely not a lot of them around!
Beautiful van and great story to go with it. Always loved the old flat front style vans.
Thanks!
Great job on saving your grandfather’s van and adapting it to your lifestyle. As you said, sourcing parts can be difficult. Drop me a line, maybe I can help.
Thanks!
Damn ! You don't Ever See These on the road! Very Unique and Functional! Got a Great motor Setup Too! 😎🤙
I’ve only seen 6 others in person. Rare for sure
That van is a sweetheart. Your grandfather would be proud. I would like to see more information on the 4x4 conversion. Thanks.
Thanks, maybe I’ll do a more detailed 4wd video some day.
That is one of the coolest vans of that era I have seen in a long time.Nice work.
Thanks!
Beautiful van, beautiful story. I also remember learning how to drive at 13. Memories like those are what life is made for. Seriously brotha it looks better than most modern vans. Definitely does not look old.
I’ll never forget how I thought driving was impossible hahahah
@@machinesinc I also learned with a manual. I remember the car shaking back and forth trying to get it into 1st. Especially on hills lol good times.
Vans are my 1st choice do everything vehicle. You’ve made a gem here. It is almost as nice as an Econoline from early 60’s looks.
Right on!
Thanks for the video. My first vehicle was a 1967 Chevy van I bought off my father. It also had been a work van. This was in the early 70's and I had started decking out the interior with brown shag carpet and was getting ready to put in paneling. Unfortunately I rolled the van one and a quarter times on my way home from school. Messed up the body pretty bad. Still ran tho. Moved on to a 69 Olds Toronado WITH factory 8 Track. Thanks for bringing back some great memories.
Glad you made it out of the rollover!
I had a 69 with a 400 caddy motor.this is exactly what I want today.awesome job
Nice!
Dude that is BaddAss, I like old stuff made new again.. Grandpa would be happy
Thanks!
Nice! Had never seen this configuration on a van. As an overlander and with sentimental value from your grandfather, you seem very confident on fixing and modifying it to suit!
They are rare for sure!
respect to you for keeping the van in the family, will enjoy the build up as it goes through the steps of your vision
Thanks!
I had a 68 6 cylinder in high school 1979 2-speed. I remember 15 teenagers riding around before school.
Oh you can fit some people in these things 😂
That's beautiful, dude! Your father is smiling 👍
Thank you very much!
@machinesinc anytime. Never could afford a rig like yours, but my Vic has been spotted across the U.S,... it's kind of an RV. Ha! ✌️
Grandparents are precious. Thing was super cold how your Grandpa had it white w/ white wheels. You did a good job reinventing it to suit you.
Thanks!
Very cool display van, I have a 69 108. I love 1st and 2nd Gen vans. Mine is a real panel with no side or rear windows. Van looks awesome, glad you kept her looks stock
Nice!
Cool van!
I put seats from a 1980 Subaru in one. Easy swap.
In the mid '80s I was making side $$ as a backyard mechanic. Somebody totaled my Subaru, which if memory serves was an 80 coupe. GL? I needed transportation fast. In the yard I had a 69 Chevy window van that we'd pulled the 327 out of to go in a nova. The t-boned Subaru, and a rolled mercury zephyr wagon.
Took the engine (200cuin 6) & tranny out of the zephyr and swapped it into the van. Had to shorten the drive shaft almost a foot. The seats in the van were rotted to just the springs, so I put the seats out of the Subaru in it. Had some mirrors & hubcaps off an old dodge pickup to round off Frankenstein. It got 21mpg. I sold it to a buddy that drove it like that for 20 years.
Nice!
Years ago a guy I knew in Oxnard California did the same thing as you did with a Chevy van just like yours it was very cool.shout out to Dennis
Wonder where it is these days
Well done young man. Great presentation. I don't need to tell you that your Grandfather would be proud and glad you're enjoying it. He'll....if I wasn't 2000 miles away I'd lend a hand myself. Very cool.
Means a lot, thanks!
Great job! I had a 66 Ford Falcon van and enjoyed watching your vans story.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Super cool van! The background story makes it that much better! You did a nice job and I'm sure you grandpa would be proud of you.
Thanks!
Grandpa lives on in you! He’d be proud.
Thanks!
When I was 12-13, one of these vans ran over my buddies dog. Having a buddy-dog of my own, I HATED those vans for a while. Then, I actually admired the design of those old Chevy vans. LOTS OF CHARACTER! Yeah, nice van. A treasure.
Ouch that’s rough
Came across this video at random. I love the history of this van, an what you've done with it! I love Chevy vans in general, and the uniqueness of yours is awesome. Your Grandfather would be proud. New sub.
I appreciate it
Great story behind the van…and you did an awesome job representing your grandfather.
Thanks!
Nice video. I had 2 of those vans. Sportvan deluxe. The first was totally redone. I love redoing it. I drove it all around the U.S. I got the second one for a parts van. I went down to southern California to get it. It was too nice to make a parts van. 68k original miles it even had a Kleenex holder inside it stock item. That was in the late 90's into the 2000's. Once my daughter came to us, I no longer felt as safe driving it around. Those were some fun times.
Nice!
Sweet! I don't know why we don't see more of these 4 x 4 vans. A 4 x 4 van seems very practical and a functional recreational vehicle. Used to see a lot of them back in the late 70's.
Agreed!
I had one of those vans, and had aspirations of doing that. I even found a super rare 3 speed manual transmission with 205 t/c. But a buddy had to have it, and it's gone. I am happy to see it done so well.
Would have been cool with the manual!
Love this as an adventure wagon platform. Great approach/departure angles, and the 108" wheelbase is great for off-road. I imagine visibility from the driver's seat is excellent for picking good lines. Such a fun project.
It definitely has its downsides, but fun to build something different.
Super cool van! And a great story to go with it! Shout out to Cory and good friends like him. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
I'm a grandfather now and I can say I hope you realize what a special thing you have in your possession. Never Ever sell it!!!!!!!!!
Keeping it forever!
Great vehicle! Your grandfather would be proud of your referb.
I appreciate that!
Machins INC. This is a sweet van. My first vehicle was a '68 ford F100 with a straight six and a three-on-the-tree. That's how I learned how to drive a manual transmission and I loved it. Bench seat, lap belts only. Rear-wheel drive. One last thing: Never get rid of this van!! Pass it down when you get too old to drive it.
Sounds like you had a rad van!
It was a truck. 8 foot bed. Would have been cool if it was a van.@@machinesinc
Amazing story, amazing know-how of aan amazing grandson building an amazing rig! Love this!
Very well said.
nice to have caring people in your life especially a friend to encourage you.
Absolutely!
It took a 12' B&M shifter cable to work my 4L60E with the shifter. Also, Clasic Industries sells an all-electric gauge kit that fits the 62-65 Nova I used for mine. Crushin69 here.. Good to find you on youtube!
Yup I have that same setup for my th350. And I’m still on the fence ditching the stock gauges!
Very cool 😎, there’s one that runs around Colorado Springs that’s like a Robin vintage blue looking creature and it’s bad ass to
Nice!
Sweet!!! Props for going old school and salute to grandpa for keeping it so you always have the memories. Hopefully your kids will drive it one day.
Thanks!
As a VW Bus - Chevy 4x4 - Jeep JKU owner, this van really speaks to me! Your grandfather sounded like a great man. And you’ve got a good friend who was a lot of help. You’re a blessed man
Thanks!
Nice job refurbishing your Grandads van! He would be very proud of your work! Looking at where that radiator is, so close to the front of the dog house, it’s amazes me it gets enough air to cool the V8! Thanks for sharing!
Amazes me too haha. But there is a little tunnel from the grill to the doghouse that feeds air.
Had a 68 chevy van back in 1984 and drove her for a few years!!! Like that van!!! Work van 307 3 speed trans and ran great!!!! My buddy called it THE DOPE VAN!!!! WE DID GO TO THE LAKE CAMPING WITH IT AND DRANK SOME BEER!!! ME AND MY CHOW DOG SMOKEY DROVE 600 MILES IN ONE DAY MOVING OUT OF OKLAHOMA!!! I MAY BUY ANOTHER ONE BUT THE ONES I SEE FOR SALE ARE IN BAD, RUSTY SHAPE!!!!!
“And drink some beer” 🤣
Had one. Great to work on even if it's rainy. Took my doghouse off the floor to install the hot 327 then bolted it on. Put floor shifter in with reverse pattern.😊
Definitely nice on rainy days 😂
This story speaks to me in so many ways. I'm from Greenville, SC and drove a 1966 Dodge van through High School and College. This was in the late 70s, so 8-track tape and 6x9 speakers rockin' it. I now live up near Asheville and do a good bit of off-road and overland travel and have always wanted to get back into s 70 van with 4x4. Fantastic rig and great story with it coming from your Grandpa. I'm sure he would get a kick out of it.
Another tidbit is that I worked with the Telephone company and they ordered all of their Chevy vans with the windows on one side and metal on the other to allow for storage on the driver's side and safer visibility on the passenger's side. It may be that this van was a Southern Bell order that your Grandpa got somehow.
This van is actually from Greenville, SC! It’s hit plenty of trails up in the Asheville area as well. And seems these display vans are more common than I thought. I just had only ever seen the sport vans and full panel vans.
man.....thats a SWEET van! come on, you need to get your grandpa's sign writing back on the side of it! that would be awesome!
I’ve been thinking about it…. May happen haha
@@machinesincit will be great! thanks for sharing bro!
What a cool ride! I love it!
I’ve got a 77 Pathfinder G-30 I plan on doing some videos of soon!
Nice!
OMG I've got Croc tears welling up. My first car at 17 y.o., my '67 Chevy Van. What a history. You're absolutely right it only cam with a straight six, 250 cu. in. Got it in '73. Maan we went everywhere. Decked out the box with bed and shelves, cupboards, blau punkt stereo with everything. What a "first car" (van). Oh, and installed portholes in rear sides plus sun/vent roof whatever... been so long. Originally a Bell Telephone cargo van slash utility van, got it at a fleet auction. Windows only up front, none in back or on doors. Headlights were low. Put bigger wheels on rear jacked the back up made it look cool. Recall that straight six was enough, plus three-ona-tree shifter. You had to bring the arm practically all the way up into reverse, literally drop it then shove it up to get it into second gear cuz the linkage was so bad, plus eventually leaked oil like a Siv. Ended up moving out west and the old boy just couldn't do the miles and had to sell it. Broke my heart giving it up, like a first love and all that.
Sounds like one cool van!
I look forward to seeing your future with your G-van!!
Gotta get back to working on it!
Love what you've done with the van, great history of it as well. I had a 64 Chevy panel van, 6 banger, 3 on the tree back in high school and early college. Drove it all over and had a lot of fun with friends!
The inline 6 gets it done
The pimped hippie... What a cool van..... Someone gave me a 96 Land Rover Discovery that set in the Mojave desert for 15 years and I just love the thing even as rough as it is
Nice haha
Your granddad would be very proud good job young man
Thank you!
Great build. I love the uniqueness of it. You did your grandfather good. Props to you for keeping his vision going.
Thanks!
Cool build as it brings back good memories. My father bought new 69 307ci van with 4 on the column. I could be wrong but I'm remembering only 69 of them were made with 4spd.
Yeah never knew about the 4 speed.
Love this van. Love this video.
The thing about “overlanders” is that they’re almost always so big and heavy that they’re only good for TH-cam and Instagram hits and would be stopped at the first switchback. This thing is small enough to actually go over landing.
Thanks!
I just found your channel and all I can say is "WOW"!!! Your van is one of the coolest projects I've seen in years and I am subscribing to your channel right after I finish this comment because I don't want to miss a single episode to see where this treasure goes. I'm truly sorry your grandfather is not around to see what you've got going on with this van but I have NO doubt he's looking down and seeing for himself what a fine young man you have become... RIP Grandpa, your van is in great hands...
Thanks, and thanks for the Sub!
I love old vans , you did a nice job on it. a work in progress, dont ever let it go.
For sure!
Man oh man I love this van. Especially since it’s the same age as me. The color is awesome great job.
Thanks!
Nice. I love old vans from all the manufacturers. They bring me back to my teens.
Cool era for sure
I had a 1969 G90. Paid $30 for it in 1986 and drove it 7 years. MA Bell van 101. Only back and side doors had glass. Rest was solid. Pro Tip. When camping and not driving, the stock seat belts make a great beer bottle opener.
They have definitely been used for that 😂
I had the same van back in the 70's. My friends and I called her the crippler due to the fact if you get in a head on even if your legs will get mangled even if your doing like 30 miles an hour. Looks good and drive safe.
Not gunna lie I think about this all the time haha
Great renovation your grandfather would be proud
That means a lot, thanks!
I had a 67 Chevy passenger van, 283 v8, posi rear end. When empty I could almost do a wheelie! Lots of surprise looks when the red light turned green.
Everyone told me these things would do wheelies, when I put the V8 in I tried so hard but to dice hahaha
When I was young, our family car was a 65 chevy sportvan. I drove it several times and one of the times I drove it out wheelin in the state forest fire lanes. Lots of fun.
That’s a rad family car
Awesome job!
Thanks!
That thing is rad. You are lucky to have come across one. I had a 68 and I had a buddy who had a 65. I spent lots of time working on it and painting it. Unfortunately I crashed it on the first icy day of the year. They were called handyvans in Canada.
Bummer it got crashed!
MY 68 was half and half windows and panels. excellent vehicle. drove it everywhere.
Nice!
Wow, that is so cool! I just bought a 4wd 4Runner to get back into off road stuff. Last time I was into off road stuff was in the early eighties.
YOU'RE ONE LUCKY DUDE!
4Runners get it done, great choice.
@@machinesinc I also have a 2002 Chevy Express 1500 cargo van that I had lifted but it's 2wd so had a posi unit installed in the rear end. I use it for towing a travel trailer and limited off road excursions. There are a couple of places here in So Cal that would convert it to 4wd but one takes too long and big $$$$$$. The other uses independent front suspension which I didn't want.
The 4Runner has independent front suspension so I must baby it. Anything used with a straight front end axle here in So Cal is outrageously expensive.
Very Cool Van! All the upgrades are useful and tastefully done!
Awesome Van!
Nice job. Gramps would be proud.
Thanks!
I love the Van! It’s So awesome you got it from your Grand father. Great job.
Thanks!
Your story hits me hard since I have my papas 1949 Chevy pickup and I’m 58 years old but I kept the old 235 cu in with advance adapter overdrive
Heck yeah!
U have done justice to ur grandpa van ❤👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you!
Cool my family had one of these vans back PA in the 1970s as our daily driver. Brings back a lot of memories.
Nice!
Whoa, dude, this is one of my favorite vans of all time. Ive loved the 69 chevy vans since i had see one back in the early 70s. You made it 4wd, you used a minimalistic grey, you have windows on one side, you put a V8 in it. Damn, I am jealous. Now i see you have 4 roof crossbars on it. Hey you're already set up to carry Hang Gliders with fewer pressure points, if you ever want to do a real sport, you know, like Hang Gliding.
I’ll look into it haha
Enjoyed your video. I love it when a guy takes the time to fix up the old iron. The junk they are making today is sad. I wouldn’t take a second look at a new anything made today. But would talk to you for hours asking how you did this or that to make things work or about the fabrication on things. The 4 wheel drive where the original shifter was would be a nice touch. God bless
Thanks for watching!
Would’ve been sweet if you could’ve put some headers on it and master flow mufflers, and your pipes out the back or just behind the back tire with 3 inch echo chamber, love the color that’s awesome. I love the way you got it set up, and don’t worry your grandfather is looking down upon you, and he’s very appreciative of the fact of what you’ve done to the van and that you still have it
I had some headers on this thing when I originally put the V8 in. Unfortunately even with everything insulated it just COOKED everything inside the doghouse. But I don’t mind a more factory exhaust for now. And thanks for the support!
Real nice build! Never seen an attempt at a G series conversion till now. Love the Motor choice, axels, all of it really! Hope you enjoy it for a long time. Thanks for posting her.
Thanks for watching
Beautiful build. I love these late 60s vans.
Same here!
Sweet rig always loved the old 60's vans
Thanks!